Delhi: Hundreds escape, 10 killed as BSF plane crashes in Dwarka

Hundreds of people had a lucky escape on Tuesday after a Ranchi-bound BSF aircraft narrowly missed an express train and crashed in west Delhi’s Dwarka after developing a technical snag, killing all ten on board.

Wreckage of the Ranchi-bound BSF aircraft which narrowly missed an express train and crashed in west Delhi’s Dwarka area after developing a technical snag.(Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)

Hundreds of people had a lucky escape on Tuesday after a Ranchi-bound BSF aircraft narrowly missed an express train and crashed in west Delhi’s Dwarka after developing a technical snag, killing all ten on board.

Sources told HT the pilot noticed the technical issue minutes after taking off at 9.37 am but avoided the Delhi-Ahmadabad Ashram Express that was passing through a nearby railway crossing and other residential areas to avoid more casualties. The twin-engine Superking plane eventually crashed into the airport’s boundary wall and burst into flames.

“Pained by the loss of lives in the BSF plane crash in Delhi. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted as home minister Rajnath Singh rushed to the spot.

Eyewitnesses said the plane hit a wall outside the technical area of the airport before bursting into flames and then crashed into a water body.

“We saw a plane spiralling down which crashed near the wall where work was going on. I could sport one body. A labourer who was working was also injured,” an eye witness Suraj said.

The BSF air wing has a fleet of four fixed wing aircraft - one Embraer, two Avros and the crashed Superking (SKA B-200).

Besides 15 helicopters consisting of six MI-17 1V, two advanced Mi-17 V5 choppers, six Advance Light Helicopters (Dhruv) and one Cheetah helicopter operating under the command of the Union Home Ministry.

The Superking was inducted in 1994-95 in the border guarding force for air support roles.

Here are some pictures from the crash site.

Eyewitnesses said the plane hit a wall outside the technical area of the airport before bursting into flames and then crashed into a water body.
(Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)

Members of a rescue team collect wreckage of the crashed BSF aircraft.
(Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)

Residents gather near the crash site. Sources told HT the pilot noticed the technical issue minutes after taking off at 9.37 am but avoided the Delhi-Ahmadabad Ashram Express that was passing through a nearby railway crossing and other residential areas to avoid more casualties.
(Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)